Saxonian Development Bank supports battery research at IFMP

Innovative materials with tailored properties play a central role in a successful transition to a green economy. In the case of battery materials, these properties are typically related to nanocrystalline or amorphous regions, which are crucial for their function. However, these properties are very difficult to access in the laboratory -especially the temporal evolution of the nanocrystalline or amorphous regions during the charging and discharging processes of a battery.

In order to close this gap, a novel and powerful experimental X-ray analysis for basic battery research is now established in our group: "Pair-Distribution-Function-Analysis" (PDF analysis). This allows the aforementioned structural changes in battery materials to be observed under operating conditions, making new key information about charge and discharge cycles accessible.

Until now, high-resolution PDF studies could only be performed at external large-scale research facilities. One of the world's first commercially available laboratory devices for such measurements is now going into operation at the IFMP. With the help of the Saxonian development bank, this facility will now be equipped with new high-performance detectors, creating a unique laboratory facility in Saxony for research into new battery materials. A valuable contribution to Saxony's cutting-edge research in the fields of environment, energy and mobility.